Ice cube release



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1937 Ewen M WWW .Feb. 17,: 1942. c, w s 2,273,745

ICE CUBEjRELEASE Filed June 21, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 2 C'Hnucska. wssrfu Patented Feb. 17, 1942 Chancey B. Westra', Houston, Tex. assignor, by

mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.,.a corporation of Delaware Application June 21, 1937, Serial No. 149,295

9 Claims.

The invention relates to ice trays and grids and more particularly to an assembly of the type that releases ice cubes from the tray and grid.

It is an object of the invention to provide an ice cube release mechanism for removing ice cubes from a tray and grid.

A further object is to provide an ice cube release mechanism which removes the ice cubes sequentially from one end of the tray to the other.

A further. object isto provide a grid Structure having transverse web members which are movable relative to the tray and to each other.

A further object is to provide a grid structure having transverse web members which'are sequentially movable so that ice cubes are sequentially released anda predetermined number of cubes may be released and removed.

' The foregoing objects, and others; will be apparent from theffollowing description taken in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, showing an ice tray and grid embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-; of

. Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fi '1.

Fi 4 is section and respective transverse webs in the positions that will be assumed when all ice cubes are released.

Fig. 5' is a detail'view showing one of the web members; I i

. Fig. 6 illustrates the construction of an actuatingfrod' comprising arr-element of the invention. I

Fig. 7 illustrates a central 'vertical section of a tray or pan having a rolled upper edge 2, a depressed center portion 3 having side walls 8 and an inclined end wall 9. This tray is adapted to .Qreceive a grid generally designated as 4. The

"grid 4 "comprises alongitudinal partition member The'grid 4 is of particular construction, the

longitudinal partition 5, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 14, being a'channel shaped member of U-shaped cross section and having its endsclosed by walls l0 and II. longitudinal dividing member comprises an open chamber adapted to receive certain actuating elements as will hereafter be described. The walls of member 5 ar provided with recesses l2 near their upper edges and these recesses are adapted to swingably receive transverse web members 6, which will now be described.

The construction of web member 6 is best shown,in Fig. 5. These web members comprise a flat plate having its side and bottom edges l5 and 16 of such contour that they fit in close juxtaposition to the side walls of the pan I when the device is in use. Each of'web members 6 is provided with slots l1 and [8, whereby a tongue an elevationlshowing the ice tray in tition 5. One end of the lever 25 is provided with odifled form. of the inventionshowing parts in iand'trahsverse web members 6 which divide the l tray into a plurality of cells 1 for the production of ice cubes, as is well known in the art.

I9 is, formed. Th'eseslots I! and it are in'such spaced relation that when the web member is placed upon the channel 5 the walls thereof will enter the slots, and-the tongue l9 will therefore extend downwardly within the channel. These web members are positioned in the respective recesses l2 and it is obvious that the web members ears 21, which extend outwardly to facilitate grasping of the lever by the hand. The opposite end of lever 25 extends downwardly within member 5 and is bifurcated to receive the flattened end 30 of an actuating rod 3|, best shown in Figs.

-to the handle 25. Each of the flattened portions 35 hence provides a pair of oppositely disposed shoulders 36 and 31. The outer or left end of the rod 3| is likewise provided with a downwardly extending tip at 38 so. as to support therod for sliding movement on the bottom of the pan.

"The grid is assembled by placing-therodiii within the channel or member 5and affixing the lever 25 upon its pivot therein. The outer or left end of the actuating rod 3|, as seen in Fig. 6,

In this manner the here noted that. the flattened portions 35 are so positioned upon rod 3| that when the'web members 5 are suspended in vertical position the respective tongues l9 will contact the forward.

shoulders 35 of the flattened portions 35.

By virtue of the progressive increasing length of flattened portions 35 it is believed obvious that when the parts are in normal position as illustrated in Fig. 7 the web members are vertical whereby cubes will be formed when the liquid movement of the lever 25 will cause the web 9 members 5 to be progressively engaged by shoulders 31 whereby the web members are sequentially swung from their vertical position to accomplish the desired functioning of the device.

- It should be noted that the grid l projects upward slightly above the top of the tray l' and that hence the recesses I! in the member 5 are above the top of the tray. This feature prevents water entering the channel member 5 in the tray. In order to assure sealing against the entry of water, however, a small sealing plate 55 is mounted in each recess 25 on the web 5 inside of the member 5. A thin gasket material 4| is inserted between plate 40 and theside walls of member 5. Each of these sealing plates 4|! is provided with a central slot 43 to receive the upper edge of the web 5. Each of the sealing plates is also provided with an arcuate upper edge 39 in order that the plate may swing within the recess l2 and beneath a cap plate 42 which is aflixed to the channel member 5, as by soldering, when the moving parts are assembled therein as already described.

Figs. '7 to 10 illustrate analternative embodiment of the invention. In this modified form of the invention the longitudinal division member 5 comprises a plate member having downwardly extending V-shaped slots 5|! in its upper edge.

The transverse web members 5 are slotted centrally at 5| to straddle the longitudinal division member 5 and swingably rest'uponthe bottoms 52 of the V-shaped slots 50.

Bearing members 53 and 55 are attached to the upper edge of division member 5 at the opposite ends thereof to rotatably support a rod 55, which is held against longitudinal movement-by means ..of "a cam 55 and a collar 51 fixed thereto and bearing against the outer faces of bearing members I3 and 54, respectively. Web members 5 extend upwardly above the upper edge 58 of division member 5 as best seen in Fig. 9 and are provided with upwardly opening recesses to permit the passage of rod 55 therethrough.

V-sh'aped slots so. It is here reiterated that the" showing of the progressive displacement of rts in order to obtain sequential swinging of the web member 5 is greatly exaggerated for purposes of illustration.

Contacting the faces of web members 5 on the side opposite plugs 50 are washers 52, which are resiliently urged to the right in Figs. '7 and 8 by means of compression springs 53. In this manner within the pan I is congealed.

The overhanging edge 55 of the tray I is pro vided with a downwardly extending support made integral therewith and comprising a vertical wall 65; and horizontal wall 51, the latter of which is apertured at 55 to receive a release pin 59 which, as shown in Fig. '1, extends downwardly to the plane of the'bottom of the tray Intermediate its ends pin 59 is provided with a collar 10 allixed thereto and a compression spring II constantly urges the pin upwardly against cam 55, which extends through an opening 12 in the overhanging edge 55. From this construction it is apparent that the position of pin 59 is determined by the longitudinal position of the arm 13 on downwardly about the periphery of bearing members 53 and 54 as best seen in Fig. 10.

The operation of the embodiment of the device shown in Figs.'1 to 6 is as follows:

With the lever 25 in' position as shown in Figs.

1 and 2, the web members 5 swingably supported in a vertical position in the channel or partition 5 the tray I is filled with water to be frozen. After freezing has been effected and it is desired to remove a part or all of the cubes so formed, the assembly is removed from the freezing chamber and the lever 25 is grasped at 21 and moved upwardly.

Initial movement of the lever causes the outer most web 5, shown at the left in Figs. 1, 2, and 4., to be first moved slightly when the shoulder 31 abuts the tongue l9 and release the cubes to the left thereof because the movement of the web 5 forces the ice cubes against the inclined end wallSsothattherewillbeatendencytoraise the cube from the tray 8 the bond with the tray and the web is broken due to movement of the web. A slight movement of th lever 25 will effeel; this release. Immediately after this first pair or set of cubes is released the successive web member will be moved to release the adjacent cubes. This releasing action will proceed progressively as the lever 25 is moved, upwardly toward its final position when all cubes will have been released. The present invention is particularly advantageous in that its construction is such that pressuretoreleaseonlyonesetofcubesatatimeis required so that no force of a, substantial amount is required. One or more sets of cubes may be released as desired. The final position of parts when all cubes are released in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 50 6 is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein the progressively inclined positions of the series of web members is clearly shown. The inclination of the web members is greatly exaggerated in the drawings in, order to better illustrate the operation of the device of the invention.

In the form shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the normal position of parts is shown in Fig. 7. If it is desired to remove the tray and grid from the freezmg chamber, handle I3 is turned slightly, whereupon releasing pin 59 is forced downwardly to release the tray from the shelf within the freezing chamber. The tray and grid are then withdrawn from the chamber.

Further turning of the handle 13 causes the upper edges of web members 5 -to be sequentially v 2,273,745 engaged by blocks 60 whereby sequential rocking g the invention is not confined to this constructionand mode of operation, as it is obvious that the relative position. of parts may be such as to incline the web members 6 to the right and it is con templated that such construction shall fall within the scope of the invention.

From the foregoing it is apparent that by the present invention any desired number of ice cubes may be released by terminating the movement of the actuating mechanism when the desired release has been effected. 'If less than all of the ice cubes are released, the actuating mechanism may be returned to its original position and the tray with the remaining cubes may be replaced in the freezing chamber for subsequent sequential release of the remaining ice cubes, or, water may be added to again fill the cells from which ice cubes have been removed.

It is believed obvious that the foregoing de-- scription discloses an invention providing an ice tray and grid assembly from which ice cubes may be released without heat. Furthermore, the invention provides a device which is simple andrugged and which will sequentially release ice cubes whereby operative stresses'are minimized and cubes'are completely released from the grid and tray in any desired number. While a preferred embodiment and a modification thereof are shown, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but is tongues extending therein, an actuating bar within said division member having means adapted to engage said tongues to swing said web members, and a manually operable member extending" into-saiddivision member for moving said bar whereby ice cubes are released from the grid and pan. 1

4. A grid member for ice trays including a longitudinal division member of channel shape, web members extending transversely of-and'swingably supported on, said division member and havingan arm portion extending into the channel of said division 'member, and means for sequentially swinging said web members from vertical position 'to release part or all of the ice cubes from the said web members having a tongue extending susceptible to various changes without departure from the spirit ofthe invention, and it is desired that limitation shall be imposed thereon only as dictated by the prior art and the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

.1. In an ice cube. pan, a grid having a longitudinal division member of channel shape having recesses therein, transverse web members swingably supported in said recesses, each of said web members having a tongue portion extending downwardly into said channeled division member, a rod movably mounted within said division member and havingshoulders thereon adapted to sequentially engage said tongue portions and swing the web members, and manually operable means extending into the channel of said division member for moving said rod to engage the Web members.

-.2. In an ice cream pan, a. grid having a hollow longitudinal division member, transverse web members swingably supported thereon, each of said web members having a tongue portion extending into said division member, sealing means between said web members and the walls of said downwardly within said division member, and a manually movable bar within the division member having'shoulders for sequentially engaging said tongues toswing the web members, whereby ice cubes are sequentially released.

6. In combination an ice cube pan, a grid removably fitting in said pan, said grid having a longitudinal division member, transverse web members supported upon said division member for swinging movement about axes below the upper edge of the member, a rodrotatably mounted upon said division member and extending longitudinally thereof, a .tray release bar movably -mof1nted on the exterior of said pan, means on said rod for moving said release bar downwardly upon initial rotation of the rod, and additional means on said rod engaging said transverse webs for swinging the webs after the tray has been releasedby movement of said release bar.

'7. A freezing device adapted to be removably supported on a cooling element, said freezing device including a tray and a grid disposed in the tray for dividing the interior thereof into a .plu-

rality of ice block forming compartments, said grid having a longitudinal wall and a plurality of transverse walls movable relative thereto, and a single means movably mounted on said device for causing movement of said device upwardly of its support on the cooling element and for progressively imparting force to said transverse grid walls to move same in succession relative to said longitudinal .grid wall to sequentially break the ice bond between ice blocks and said grid and tray.

8. A freezing device adapted to be removably supportedon a cooling element, said device comprising a tray and a unitary removable grid structure disposed in the tray for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of ice block forming compartments, said grid structure having a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending mounted within said division member and having shoulders thereon adapted to engage said tongue portions to swing the web'members and manually operable means connected to said actuating bar and extending outwardly'from the division member. 4

3. In an ice cube pan, a gri having a hollow division member, transverse web members swingably supported on said member and having transversely through the plane of said longitudinal wall and interlocked therewith for movement relative thereto, and a single means movably mounted on said device for causing movement of said device upwardly of its support on the cooling element and for applying force to said transverse grid walls to move same relative to said longitudinal grid wall to break the ice bond between iceblocks and said grid and tray.

9. A freezing device adapted to be removably supported on a cooling element, said device cornprising a tray and a unitary removable grid structure disposed in the tray for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of ice block forming compartments, said grid structure having a longitudinal wall and a plurality of walls extending transversely through the plane of said longitudinal wall and interlocked therewith for movement relative thereto, and a single means movably. mounted on said device for causing movement of said device upwardly of its support on the cooling element and for'applying force to the upper portion of said transverse grid walls in a direction lengthwise of said grid structure to tilt same relative to said longitudinal grid wall for breaking the ice bond betweenice blocks and said grid and tray.

' CHANCEY B. WESTRA. 

